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Good morning, good afternoon, good evening or good night depending on when you’re reading this blog entry.

Welcome to part 2 of my “What’s in your diaper bag?” series this time we’re looking at “Incontinence Go Bags” you may call it something else as I have heard different people call it different names but whichever name you use this is the incontinence version of a diaper bag and for many of us this is an important topic when out and about with incontinence.

First off I want to say that this is just a guide, and while yes most of my experience is within the AB and ageplay communities, my father had MS and he had incontinence so in helping my mother I would sometimes help pack what my father needed when we went out. I also have a really good buddy who has incontinence issues, so I’m no stranger to people with incontinence even if we never really talked about it.

Traveling or going out with incontinence can be a very scary thing; however it doesn’t need to be. Some of you may feel house bound, scared of having an accident, hopefully with this list you can get back out to enjoying yourself.

Your “Go Bag” should contain enough supplies for your trip including the worst possible case scenario; you can add or subtract things in your bag as only you will know what all you truly need. Some of you may like different products while others may think you don’t need some of these things. But remember it’s always better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it.

The first thing you’d want to figure out is what kind of bag you want to use. Most of the people I’ve talked to prefer to use a simple plain backpack or maybe you would prefer a messenger bag that can hold everything needed. Ideally you want to use a bag which matches as much as possible your activity e.g. when at work use a conference bag. It’s not unusual these days to carry an extra bag if you need to so don’t worry about what people will think you’re packing in your bag.

In the Backpack/bag you’ll want to keep the following:
(Again this is just a guide)

Diapers - 2-3 Adult diapers/pull-ups depending on how long you’re out for and your incontinence needs.

Boosters - This would depend on your incontinence needs, maybe you need to go an extended period of time without changing. Boosters can add to your over all capacity.

Wipes - Abena has some really good Cleansing Wipes. All the ingredients have been certified SAFE for even the most sensitive skin. Using these wipes will gently cleanse the skin as well as help in the prevention of rashes and skin irritation.

Powder/Lotion/Oil/Cream - Some people like using unscented baby powder, baby oil, or Penaten cream. Abena has a good zinc ointment and Barrier Cream for adults as well. It’s a good idea to have for your “Go Bag.”

Hand Sanitizer – Sometimes when you change you have to do so in the back seat of your car or in a place without running water so it’s always good to have some hand sanitizer just in case.

Disposable gloves – This could be a preference thing if your changing your own diaper and you have to use a cream or lotion, however, if you’re a caregiver for a person with incontinence issues you may want to pack a few pair for diaper changes.

Waterproof Panties/Pants – Sometimes called Diaper Covers or Waterproof Covers, basically these come in different types from plastic to vinyl even rubber or PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) like the Silence Pant - Waterproof Diaper Cover. They also come in different kinds like printed, frosted and clear. These can be used over both cloth and disposable diapers to reduce crinkling of plastic backed diapers, control odours and protect against leaks. Using them at night time can help prevent tedious and expensive changing and laundering of sheets every morning.

Odour Eliminator Spray – A good odour eliminator spray doesn’t just mask the smell with an aromatic scent, they actually eliminate the odour. Some of the products are scented, while others are scent-free.

Disposal Bags - Disposal bags could be anything from a shopping bag to dog waste bags. I often use portable diaper genie bags, however, you can get scented odour eliminator bags that are very good, just remember that when using disposal bags to bundle your diaper up tight to help eliminate odours before you tie off the bags.

Change of Clothing – No matter what we do stuff could happen and it’s better to be prepared and have a change and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Keep in mind you’ll want to pack something simple and basic that would go with just about everything.

There may also be things I’m forgetting about. If so what do you keep in your “Go Bag?” contact us and let us know. I’d like to hear from you.

Below is a checklist I created please feel free to save it and print it off for your own use.